Watching my oldest child blossom into an impressive young woman these days is amazing to watch - a tremendous leap from a teenager! She is a senior in college, a scholarship volleyball athlete, coaches 3 school volleyball teams-middle school, JV & Varsity, and has a wonderful relationship with a young man I absolutely adore-whom she is having to help a bit (he is unable to drive for six months due to a medial issue). Between schoolwork, her practice, coaching her 3 teams’ practices, managing her household, and helping drive around her boyfriend who is also an athlete with a tight schedule, even I get overwhelmed at all she has on her list to do.

Although I worry, I also know her strengths and I am especially familiar with her determination! She calls me every day and we talk through some of the stressors. A big list we make is priorities. Once the priorities are set, it is then a matter of action. Teaching her to take care of herself has been an important item to put on her list of priorities. Just because she is young doesn’t mean she is indestructible!

Mark 12:30-31 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Loving your neighbor as you love yourself means you must love yourself and treat yourself well. I encourage her with this verse often. We need to remember that we cannot do what we love, with those we love if we aren’t well physically, mentally, and most especially, spiritually. That is where we will fail if we fail ourselves. Pray for guidance, wellness, peace, and balance. Most of all, pray about everything - take your heart to the Lord before anything else. He is #1 priority!

Blessings,

Marcia K. Gibney,
Director of Recreation Ministry

Christ United Methodist Church